Due Date: September 26

The essay should be three (3) pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, standard margin settings. Use APA guidelines for citations. 

Culture is a multilayered way in which we define ourselves within our society, which is made up of people from many different backgrounds and with many ways of viewing the world.

Curriculum units like “All About Me” help young learners to understand who they are by studying themselves, their families and their communities. They learn to value both the similarities and the differences among themselves in their classroom community. 

At this point in the semester you have had the opportunity to share your own and your classmates’ stories and recollections. You have made several creative artworks that reflect what your culture means to you. We have explored the importance of designing curriculum that incorporates a variety of cultural traditions and perspectives, especially those of the students in your classrooms.  

For this assignment you will write a reflective paper that incorporates what you’ve learned from all these sources and experiences. Write an essay in which you address the following ideas:

• How did your experience of sharing your own and your classmates’ stories contribute to your understanding of culture? 

• What does it mean to design culturally responsive curriculum? 

• When curriculum reflects diverse cultures, how does that support children and families?

• How do the creative arts support culturally responsive curriculum? Describe two examples of two creative arts activities that might extend children’s learning about culture. 

• Describe two learning experiences (lessons) that you would design that build upon what you learned about culture through the stories we have shared as a class.

NOTES:  

(1) Your essay should be written as cohesive and well-organized paragraphs, not a series of questions and answers. 

(2) Your essay must refer to concepts and include quotes from the course readings on this topic. Use APA guidelines to indicate when you are taking ideas or language from other sources and include a reference list at the end of your paper. 

Additional Resources 

The following resources are freely available to educators and can help us gain a deeper understanding of culturally responsive curriculum and of how to help young children move from a sense of self to a sense of the world:

Brillante & Mankiw examines how geography shapes identity and helps children develop a sense of place.

Learning for Justice is a website where educators who care about diversity, equity and justice can find news, curriculum suggestions, conversation and support.

Raising Race Conscious Children is a blog geared towards families, but provides thoughtful commentary and developmentally appropriate considerations for openly discussing race and privilege with very young children.

New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCORE) provides information and resources on and justice and equity in the classroom as well as way to get involved in social justice activism.

Video on Culturally Responsive Teaching

The following are useful Book Lists for teachers who want to create culturally responsive classroom environments:

https://pernillesripp.com/2015/10/03/great-picture-books-to-teach-theme/

www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/07/06/534443123/summer-reading-for-your-woke-kid 

http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/06/17/10-affirming-black-books-that-will-elevate-your-childrens-minds/   

coolmompicks.com/blog/2017/01/31/childrens-books-about-immigrant-experience/ 
 
https://kitaabworld.com/pages/our-books

https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/childrens-book-gender-equality

https://mashable.com/article/best-childrens-books-teach-kids-gender-equality/